February 9, 2011

Alright, so I don't have any new photos since I haven't taken any, but that doesn't mean nothing's happened! So I got another vet school interview for a domestic school. I guess I'm going to have to extend my stay in the States for a little while longer. I now have an interview for University of Illinois and an interview for Tuskegee University in Alabama. Yes, it's Alabama, but it's significantly cheaper than Australia, unfortunately. So yeah, it's going to be very VERY chaotic for me the week of February 19-25th!

I went to the second hand shops with my roommate Xani yesterday, so that was fun. I got a couple pillows with pillow cases ($4.99 each... they don't do tax here so it's as much as they say it is!) and a couple purses (I know, I splurged a bit!). I also bought a few shot glasses for the Grey Goose vodka that I bought duty free at Sydney airport. hehe!

Tomorrow is my first day of classes ("uni") and I'm a bit nervous. I don't know what to expect with vet school and I hope that just taking a pen and notebook would suffice. They seem pretty laid back here, so that's good. I don't doubt that the criteria is any less tough than in the U.S. but that it's just a year longer than domestic schools.  I've also met a couple other international students because they do an orientation and other get-togethers to introduce the international students to each other. I met a Norwegian student who is also in the first year vet science program and another student from Montana that is in the first year program. I also met an English student in Sociology and a guy from Boston that's studying Environmental Science -- his name is Noah. How fitting, right? hah :-) And I met a German guy that's into Physics and Engineering. He's hardcore! So yeah, I'm slowly but surely making friends.

It's funny because I do but I don't want to leave the veterinary science program here. I love the atmosphere and the people are very nice, but I just can't stop thinking about the financial aspect. $45,000 x 5 years = $225,000 and that doesn't include rent/utilities/groceries/entertainment. So yeah... about $300,000 probably by the end of my education. University of Illinois is about $23,000 x 4 years = $92,000 tuition. And Tuskegee is cheaper than that, even. So yeah, needless to say... I'd save probably at least $100,000 - $150,000 if I went to University of Illinois. It's a tough decision!!! We'll see if I get in. For now I'm just interviewing, so they can decline me still.

Anyway, I know this blog isn't as interesting as the last and I apologize for that. I haven't had anything TOO exciting to "write home about" per say, aside from running errands for the house and meeting new people whom I haven't taken pictures of yet. Sorry! I may just add a noise of the "lovely" birds I wake up to every morning, if you feel inclined to listen to it:

http://www.shades-of-night.com/aviary/sounds/ausraven.au

If you can't open this, let me know! These ravens are freaking obnoxious and loud -- they sound like a dying cat!